The next day, the security team was busy from early on. It was the day Chase went to Steward for a regular checkup. Although it was a routine inspection, security became more thorough due to that experience with terrorists.
"I'm glad there are more people than last time," Seth added to Mark's words.
"I'm sure they wouldn't be stupid enough to use the same tactic again."
Josh was of the same opinion as Seth, but there was no harm in being cautious. He silently moved his body according to the instructions. As he was busy checking the car and checking its location, Laura sneakily approached him and started talking to him.
"Josh, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Yes. What's going on?"
Looking down at her puzzled, Laura immediately answered.
"It's the medicine you took last time. You brought it to him, right? I checked the exact number back then. It was a month's supply."
Josh nodded his head.
"Yes. He decided to reduce the medication little by little, so the amount was less than before... Was it not enough?"
When he asked in confusion, Laura said "no", shaking her head.
"It's the opposite. There is too much medicine left," Laura spoke to Josh, who was surprised, with a serious expression. "It looks like Mr. Miller is missing his medicine. When I looked at the bottle, he only took about half of it... So the number of pills was correct, right?"
"It was definitely correct."
When he answered with more force, Laura said "okay". She got lost in her thoughts for a moment. After seeing Laura rubbing her forehead as if she had a headache, Josh suggested.
"If Mr. Miller didn't have any problems despite skipping the medication, wouldn't it be okay to tell Mr. Steward and stop taking the medication altogether? He said he would gradually reduce the medication and stop taking it anyway after seeing the progress."
"Right... I guess I'll have to show him the rest of his medicine and tell him about that too," Laura said in a somewhat half-hearted tone, then went back with her eyebrows still pulled together.
Left alone, Josh went back to his work, but his mind was already filled with thoughts of Chase and the medicine.
He was even more disturbed when he recalled the warnings Steward gave him after deciding to reduce his medication. He had clearly told him not to skip it.
Josh, who was completely annoyed, remembered that even when Chase was with him, he often missed his medication. He only took medicine when Josh was with him and took his. On the other hand, it could also be said that he did not take it unless someone took care of him.
I'm sure nothing bad will happen, Josh comforted himself, feeling very reluctant. He didn't even know that he was skipping medicine until now. Extreme alphas have a constitution that does not make them become easily addicted to drugs.
Until then, he had not been happy about receiving treatment from Steward, but after learning about the medicine, he became impatient. What will Steward conclude? Should he stop taking his medication or not?
"Josh, we are leaving."
At Mark's call, he hurried to the car. Chase got into the car first, and a sweet scent lingered faintly in the air.
Feeling a little excited, Josh got into the car and a few moments later they headed to the hospital, leaving behind a few bodyguards.
***
The hospital didn't look much different from the last time he was there. After completing a brief examination, Chase entered the examination room with Laura, and while waiting for them in the hallway with other security guards, Josh glanced at the hallway of the hospital where he was standing. It was still a very desolate place. It seemed like the place would turn upside down in just a few hours in silence without a single sound of breathing, but the staff here seemed to be able to hold on.
Come to think of it.
Josh recalled the last time he came and immediately remembered an unfamiliar face. Grayson didn't even show his face after that. When he heard about Chase and thought about how he beat up Grayson, he suddenly became curious.
Maybe he had some kind of plan?
The quiet was a good thing, but he began to wonder if something was up to him. Josh thought seriously, remembering that he had promised Chase that he would kidnap him.
Should he invite him to the wedding and then imprison him?
He didn't think it would be a bad wedding gift. However, it will take some time, and more than anything, they haven't even decided when and how to get married and what to announce to those around them. What should he say to Pete?
When he thought that far, the door to the treatment room opened and Laura appeared. Everyone expected Chase to come out soon, but the only one who came out was Laura.
"Josh." She glanced around at the guards before settling her eyes on Josh. "Would you like to come in for a moment? Mr. Steward says he has something to ask."
As the security guards looked at him with puzzled eyes, Josh said indifferently.
"I was the one who took the medicine last time."
Soon, the rest, including Mark, seemed to understand and said nothing more. Josh immediately walked over and entered the treatment room.
The moment he heard the sound of the door closing behind him, he suddenly felt like the space had become glass. The silence remained the same, but why did it feel like a sense of relief inside the treatment room? Even though it was a space with that suspicious Steward.
The answer came right away. Chase, who was sitting in a chair, smiled at him. Josh purposely gave only a casual, business-like look to avoid revealing his emotions. In contrast, Steward stood up to greet him with a visibly happy expression.
"Welcome, Mr. Bailey. It's been a while," Steward spoke, first extending his hand for a handshake. "Did you stay well? I was wondering what happened after that."
"It's just the same every day."
As he finished speaking briefly, Steward paused. It was only a few seconds of hesitation, but Josh could tell what was going through his mind. It was clear he wanted to ask about Grayson. He stroked his chin seriously and, sure enough, opened his mouth as if trying to confide in his thoughts.
"Someone had an argument in my office before, so I wanted to know what happened after that."
"Why don't you ask the person involved?" Josh again avoided answering. He didn't have anything to say, so if he was that curious, he could hear it from Grayson. That was his thought. Then Steward unexpectedly smiled bitterly.
"That would be nice, but I haven't heard from him since then. I guess I'll have to wait until his next appointment. I can't help it. Now, shall we get back to talking about Chase?"
Steward must have decided that the question was no longer meaningful and immediately changed the topic. Josh waited silently for what he had to say. He glanced at Chase and saw that he didn't look uncomfortable. Steward opened his mouth to Josh, who turned his gaze again.
"He hadn't taken his medicine for a long time. He said he hasn't touched it at all for the last three days."
Josh reflexively looked back at Chase. He answered confidently.
"It's true."
"...Mr. Miller."
As he quickly corrected his words, Chase paused for a moment and then turned to Steward.
"I don't have any trouble sleeping anymore and I don't feel any discomfort without taking the medicine. So, can I just stop taking it? You were planning to make me gradually cut it down and then quit taking it anyway, right? Look now. I'm fine."
He looked straight at Steward and declared. "I don't need a prescription anymore."
Josh stared at Chase silently. After hearing that, he realized that Chase had intentionally not taken his medication. Steward felt the same way, but he didn't bother to point it out. What was important was what to do next.
There is some truth to what he said, Josh thought. Even if it wasn't planned, if Chase was fine after stopping the medication, wouldn't it be okay to stop taking it now? No one even noticed that he wasn't taking his medication.
He took a lot of medicine like that.
Josh looked down at Chase, not realizing that his expression had naturally relaxed. Steward, who was looking at them silently, opened his mouth.
"It's not possible."
At Steward's firm words, not only Chase but also Josh stiffened for a moment. Josh took his eyes off Chase and looked at Steward. He continued to speak with an ever more serious expression, as if his usual cheerful face had disappeared.
"Didn't I tell you? It's too dangerous to stop taking the medicine right away. You may experience withdrawal symptoms, and if you do it wrong, you could die from shock."
"...Are you trying to scare him now?" Josh asked on behalf of Chase, who remained silent. Chase just looked at Steward. Josh put his hand on Chase's shoulder as if to tell him not to worry. Then Chase raised his hand and grabbed his hand. Although his fingers were numb from the exertion, Josh kept his poker face. It was natural for him to be this wary as he still had doubts about Steward. Steward continued the conversation without much reaction, whether he knew how Josh was feeling or not.
"Actually, I'm not sure. Being is a risk is just a prediction. However, the side effects of the drugs have already been discovered through experiments, and we don't know what the results will be when the side effects of all the drugs are combined," he said seriously until he suddenly smiled. "Of course, if you want to check it yourself, I won't stop you."
Josh barely suppressed the groan boiling deep in his throat. He was such a mean bastard that he preyed on the other person's weakness and pretended to give them a choice.
Chase, who had been silent until then, spoke for the first time.
"Then what are you telling me to do from now on? Are you saying I have to keep taking the medicine?"
At the quiet voice, Josh and Steward's eyes turned to him at the same time. There was no emotion on Chase's face, so it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Steward answered with his eyes fixed on Chase's face.
"That's right, we need to gradually reduce the medication and monitor the condition as originally planned. If a side effect occurs in the middle, we prepare additional measures. This means that we need to improvise at the right time. It may be okay right now, but we cannot guarantee that it will be the same in the future."
"Mr. Miller had stopped taking his medication."
Despite Josh's words, Steward's expression did not change much.
"He was just lucky that the abnormality did not surface until now."
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and an employee came in and handed out documents to Steward. Steward briefly greeted him and looked at the documents. In the short time it took for Steward to leave and for him to speak again, Josh's mind was complicated by numerous thoughts and emotions that came to mind.
Steward, who had been checking the test results for a while, finally raised his head. There was a smile on his face again, but Josh felt it was fake.
"The results are not bad," Steward continued with a smile on his face. Thinking he might have made a smiling face into a mask, Josh waited for what would happened next. Steward continued speaking with his eyes fixed on Chase.
"I would say it's better than I thought. Compared to last time, it actually got better. Well, now the moment to choose has come. Should you not stop taking the medicine or just stop taking it and see how it goes? Of course, as I said so far, I would recommend the former, but I cannot force it because the patient's choice comes first."
"I am not a patient," Chase pointed out and Steward asked with a smile.
"Then should I say customer?"
It wasn't exactly wrong, but it wasn't the right word either. After the silence, Josh opened his mouth.
"There seems to be no change in the opinion that he should take the medicine again and see how it goes."
"There has never been an extreme alpha who took so many drugs at once for so long," he grinned, raising the corners of his mouth further into a smile. This time it seemed like he was sincere, but it gave Josh a creepy feeling.
"Actually, I'm really curious to see how Chase's body changes if he stops taking the medication right away. As a doctor, I shouldn't say that."
Seward closed his mouth as if asking what he was going to do, but all that followed was silence.
*
Laura turned her head at the sight of the door and was surprised to see someone coming out after closing the door.
"Mr. Steward, what happened to Mr. Miller? Did the examination go well?"
"Yes, Laura, he decided to continue taking the medicine."
In response to Steward's answer, Laura tilted her head as she looked at the door he had closed.
"What about Mr. Miller? Is there anything left to examine?"
To Laura, who looked puzzled, Steward answered smoothly as usual.
"He said he had something to talk about with the security guard, so I left them speak."
"Oh yeah?" Laura immediately lifted her gaze from the door in agreement. Steward continued speaking naturally.
"Gradually reduce the amount of medicine, but be careful not to miss it in the future. Since the period of missing medicine is not short, side effects may appear even late. If something is not right or a problem arises, please contact me immediately."
At the request, Laura said "yes" with a nervous expression then nodded. Steward, who continued his formal remarks and added caution, quietly raised his voice and asked.
"But what happened to that bodyguard? I heard it was a temporary job, but seeing as he's still working, it looks like Chase trusts him a lot, right?"
"Ah yes," Laura answered without thinking. "We had a terrorist attack last time, and there were bodyguards who had not yet returned, so we signed a contract and extended the contract until filming was completed."
"The whole team?"
"Yes."
As Laura nodded her head obediently, Steward blinked her eyes as if curious.
"All for one, the Miller family is a big spender."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Steward smiled at Laura, who looked puzzled.
"I'm talking to myself."
*
There was still silence in the treatment room. Even after they were alone together, Chase didn't open his mouth, neither did Josh. It was Josh who asked Stewards to leave, but he didn't quite get his word out first. But if not now, it would be difficult to get another chance. After sighing, Josh gathered his thoughts and opened his mouth.
"Chase."
"Sorry."
Suddenly, Chase apologized. Josh, who was about to put his hand on his shoulder, stopped, and he looked down at his hands, which were still clasped in his lap, and continued.
"I was impatient. I won't miss it from now on."
"...Okay." Josh, who had been trying to persuade him to remain alone, was at a loss for words. He brought his hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it as he spoke.
"He said to give it about three months and see. It will get better soon."
Chase paused, then briefly nodded. Josh looked down at him.
"Did you want to get off the medication quickly?"
"..."
"Why?"
Chase still had no answer to the quiet question. Is it just his usual whim? Josh thought to himself. Nothing happened this time, but it was the time when he decided to ask for help again, as he left the security guard without permission last time.
"Because..." After a while, he muttered.
"I thought I didn't want to die like this."
"...So, you said to quit it while slowly controlling it, right?" Josh asked curiously, but Chase kept his mouth shut.
Josh waited patiently for him to speak again, but Chase, who had been motionless for a while, suddenly stood up and looked at him casually.
"I'm sure the medicine is ready by now, right? Let's go."
He made a promise to Josh, who paused for a moment.
"Now I won't skip my medicine arbitrarily."
Chase, who even kissed him lightly, smiled as if to reassure him. Watching Chase take the lead, Josh couldn't say anything more and just walked after him. Dane's words that he had suddenly forgotten came to mind.
Josh looked at Chase's back with his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Could it be that Chase was...?
Would he?
He thought about it, but there was nothing he could know unless Chase told him. In the end, a few days passed with this curiosity, but Josh got buried in his busy daily life and forgot about it.